Music and Electronic Engineering BA (Joint Hons)

Students on this joint honours degree will spend half their time studying electronic engineering and half their time studying music. At the School of Electronic Engineering students will focus onaspects of electrical technology applicable in electronic music production including mathematics, circuit theory and design, programming languages and principles. At the School of Music students can choose from a wide range of modules, including, but not restricted to studies of media and popular music culture, recording and production techniques, the recording industry and undertaking creative music projects.

You will study the parts of Electronic Engineering that are most relevant to the music and media industry. How sound and visual arts are recorded, transmitted and played.

£2M investment in laboratory and teaching. We have a brand new teaching laboratory equipped with industry standard hardware.

The School covers a breadth of musical, intellectual and creative activity including musicology composition and performance. From Stravinsky to the Sex Pistols and beyond.

We use VHDL hardware description language as well as C, JAVA and MATLAB.

Integrated circuit design for analogue and digital electronics.

99% graduate employment.

Employers value those who are able to work as part of a team. We therefore have a strong emphasis on team projects.

We also focus on design in order to bring together different aspects of learning as well as professional behaviour, ethics and standards as well as project management.

Undergraduate students use and work in a clean room and have full training in clean room protocol.

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

All our Undergraduate students are involved in real research projects during their studies.

The School of Music at Bangor has a concert series and runs festivals throughout the year these include student ensembles such as The University Symphony orchestra and resident professional ensembles. Study at an old university with a long and distinguished history of excellence in science.

Small class sizes of between 25 to 50 students. This means you will be taught as an individual. The school of music also offers one to one tuition for performance students.

We assign every student with a personal tutor to provide support you throughout your studies on both an academic and pastoral level. Pastoral care is very important at Bangor.

Bangor University was recently ranked 7th in the whole of the UK (out of 150 institutions) for student satisfaction. The School of Electronic Engineering is rated 1st in Wales and 4th in the whole UK for student satisfaction.

At least one Genre and Composer Study, from a selection that changes from year to year e.g. Reformation Music; Music and Ritual; Music and Politics in 17th-Century England; Postminimalism; Twentieth-Century Women Composers; Frank Zappa; The Violin in World Culture; Minimalism; German Romantic Opera before Wagner; Arnold Schoenberg; Boulez; Wagner; The Beatles; Beethoven and the String Quartet; Dvořák; Brazilian Music and Culture; Music in Twentieth-Century Wales

Optional modules:

Words and Music

Songwriting Skills

Music Analysis: Schenkerian Techniques

Music Analysis: Thematic and Semiotic Techniques

Harmony and Counterpoint

Arts Administration

Music in the Community

Community Arts Project

Orchestration

Composing for Film and the Media

Max/MSP Programming 2

Ensemble Performance 1

Ensemble Performance 2

Publishing and Processing Music

Recording Techniques

Year 3

Compulsory modules:

You must undertake at least one project-based module. This may be in the School of Music, in the other School, or you may take project-based modules in both Schools. If you choose to undertake project-based modules in Music, you must choose between 30 credits and 40 credits from the following options:

Dissertation

Edition

Composition

Solo Performance Project

Optional modules:

Genre and Composer Studies, from a selection that changes from year to year e.g. Reformation Music; Music and Ritual; Music and Politics in 17th-Century England; Postminimalism; Twentieth-Century Women Composers; Frank Zappa; The Violin in World Culture; Minimalism; German Romantic Opera before Wagner; Arnold Schoenberg; Boulez; Wagner; The Beatles; Beethoven and the String Quartet; Dvořák; Brazilian Music and Culture; Music in Twentieth-Century Wales.

This joint honours course is designed to prepare you for a career in the delivery of sound and vision. This course sits at the interface of creativity and technology. Past students have set up their own recording studios, become professional performers and also gone onto postgraduate study and teaching.

Through the Bangor Employability Award I have become much better at time management and handling stress and pressures. It put me in different types of situations, which allowed me to become more flexible with how I handle new challenges and different types of people.

Employability and the School of Electronic Engineering

Our graduates go on to work in a huge range of different industries. They are extremely valuable to all kinds of employers. This is because our courses combine high quality teaching coupled with laboratory time. Our students learn the theory and put this into practice in the laboratory straight away.

Working in many different areas

Our graduates can work in many different areas, from automotive electronics to computer games hardware design and from government research laboratories to consumer electronics manufacturers.

The mathematical modelling, problem-solving and project management skills that we teach our students make them attractive to a much wider range of employers which is why over 99% of our students walk straight into graduate jobs when they leave Bangor.

Employability and the School of Music

A degree from the School of Music offers excellent employment prospects, in a wide range of career options. Many of our graduates choose to become teachers, at all educational levels (up to and including university); others take up administrative posts with orchestras, opera houses, or arts centres. Music graduates are always needed in the media and in recording companies, as technicians, producers, programme-planners, and writers. Other possible career paths include specialist music journalism, music publishing, music librarianship, and arts marketing. Several of our graduates have gone on to become distinguished academics, composers, and performers.

Transferable skills

Our degrees allow students to develop a range of transferable skills (communication, creativity, initiative, collaboration, etc.) which are excellent preparation for entry into the civil service, industry, or into one of the professions.

Postgraduate studies

Each year several of our students decide to undertake postgraduate study, lasting from one to four years. Postgraduate study is an opportunity to further deepen your knowledge and expertise, and leads to a truly individual contribution as an academic, composer, or performer. Academic postgraduates often go on to teach in universities, while composers and performers make their way into the national and international arenas.

School of Music Careers Day

The Career in Music Day is an opportunity for current students to listen to advice from industry experts and meet with graduates who have gone on to careers in music.
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Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional work place and there is a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

Working while you Study

The JobZone is the University’s Student Employment Bureau; they advertise the following opportunities:

The entry requirements below are Engineering requirements. Please also check with the School of Music for any additional requirements.

For 2018 entry:

120-112 tariff points from level 3 qualifications* in any subjects (Electronics, Design and Technology, Physics and Maths welcome, but not essential), plus GCSE in Science, Maths, English or Welsh Language at grade C. *Level 3 qualifications include A levels, BTEC, Access, Irish Highers, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and others – for a full list, please refer to the new UCAS tariff at www.ucas.com.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants, individuals with European qualifications and international applicants (subject to minimum English language requirements).

For 2017 entry (new UCAS tariff for courses starting in September 2017):

120-112 tariff points from level 3 qualifications* in any subjects (Electronics, Design and Technology, Physics and Maths welcome, but not essential), plus GCSE in Science, Maths, English or Welsh Language at grade C. *Level 3 qualifications include A levels, BTEC, Access, Irish Highers, International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers and others – for a full list, please refer to the new UCAS tariff at www.ucas.com.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants, individuals with European qualifications and international applicants (subject to minimum English language requirements).

General University entry requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.

Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.

Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

Music:

Mandatory Costs:

Core module (WXM 1002, The Study of Music): purchase of text book A History of Western Music: £25 (usual price £39) or core module (WXC 1002, Astudio Cerddoriaeth): purchase of text book Hanes Cerddoriaeth y Gorllewin: £15 (usual price £25) [earlier edition of the English version].

Although we are moving to online submissions as of AY 2017-18, a minority of modules may require students to print out a copy of the assignment (i.e. they will not be suitable for online submission). These costs will vary according to students.

The early closing date is October 15 for all Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary students. The main closing date for all applications is January 15.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Contact us

Studying within the School of Electronic Engineering

The School off Electronic Engineering has been ranked Number 1 in Wales for Student Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2016)

Ranked 2nd in the UK for research. Our research expertise is reflected in all the teaching students receive. Students are therefore guaranteed access to cutting edge research as soon as they arrive at Bangor.

We are the oldest Electronic Engineering School in the UK.

The School is over 50 years old and can trace its roots back over a century to the Department of Physics.

Direct practical experience of techniques and equipment.

State of the art class 1000 clean room facility.

All courses make use of the well-equipped laboratories, networked computers and industry software in the large and lively community of the Schools of Electronics and Computer Science.

30 years of IET accredited courses. The IET commended Bangor for its staff /student ratio which ensures both excellent student support and the creation of a very good learning environment.

Students can opt to spend a year working in industry during their studies.

Individual projects are often carried out in collaboration with a company providing valuable work experience.

Sponsorship and scholarship opportunities are available on a competitive basis.

Why study at the School of Music?

School Excellence Scholarships - Rewarding Academic Achievement: students who start a BA course in the Schools of Modern Languages & Cultures, Music, Philosophy & Religion or Welsh in September 2017 and 2018 will be eligible for an MA Scholarship. These scholarships will be available to UK, EU and International students who have completed a BA degree in one of these Schools in Bangor University; achieved a 2:1 or above, and gained a place on a one-year full-time Taught Masters programme based in one of the Schools above. BA students who graduate with a 1st class degree will automatically receive a full tuition fee waiver for the MA. BA students who graduate with a 2:1 degree will automatically receive a fee reduction, and pay £1,000 fees for the MA. For more information about these scholarships please contact: cah@bangor.ac.uk.

The quality of the teaching at the School of Music has consistently be rated as excellent. We scored 100% overall satisfaction in both the 2016 and the 2017 National Student Survey, placing us top in Wales and 1st in the UK among traditional music departments.

We offer one of the largest number of options of any UK music department, covering every aspect of the subject. You can shape your degree course to reflect your interests and strengths.

Much of the teaching is in small groups, providing a stimulating and supportive environment. The options include ensemble coaching and tuition in conducting, and a number of vocational modules such as Arts Administration.

We offer fantastic music facilities. The school itself is located in a recently renovated Victorian villa with a range of teaching rooms, practice rooms and social spaces for our students. We also have two fine concert halls (in which weekly rehearsals are held in addition to concerts), and four electronic music studios equipped to the highest specifications

We have six grand pianos, three harpsichords, two organs, and a full suite of orchestral percussion.

Our music library contains 30,000 scores, 3,000 CDs, and an excellent collection of books on music, and is open 24 hours a day during term time.

The School of Music is at the heart of the university campus, with easy access to libraries, cafés and restaurants. The University’s Arts and Innovation centre – Pontio - is less than 5 minutes’ walk away.

We take advantage of our local area for the study of music in Welsh culture, and draw on the resources of our Archive of Traditional Welsh Music and our Welsh Pop Archive.

We have a unique collection of over 300 world instruments.

All of our staff have international research profiles and are experts in their fields. In the government’s Research Excellence Framework (2014) exercise, 81% of our research was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Staff teach from their research specialisms, and so the course content is always at the cutting edge.

We have excellent links with local and national employers, including Venue Cymru, Sain Records, the BBC, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Our concert series is one of the most varied of any British university. It includes recitals by visiting artists, our resident ensembles, and concerts of electroacoustic music given by Electroacoustic Wales, alongside performances by students themselves.

Studying at Bangor

Rated Gold for teaching

We have been awarded a Gold rating, the highest rating possible, for the standarad of our teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment. The TEF assessment took into account teaching quality, learning environment and student outcomes and learning gain. We were judged to deliver consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for our students and our teaching is of the highest quality found in the UK.

A top 10 university

The National Student Survey (NSS) results place Bangor amongst the UK’s top 10 universities (excluding specialist institutions) for student satisfaction. This reflects the University’s focus on overall student experience.

Enjoy a university experience that’s amongst the best in the UK

Take advantage of the Bangor Student Experience (ranked in the top 20 in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2017) with free membership of student clubs and societies, a new international experience programme and employability award scheme.

Award-winning clubs and societies!

Our clubs and societies have been named the best in the UK at the WhatUni Student Choice Awards 2017.

Unrivalled location

Choose to study in one of the best places in the UK to be a student. Bangor’s location – close to the mountains and the sea - has been described as ‘the best university setting in the UK’.

Investment in facilities

Benefit from continued investment in facilities and services – with an exciting new Arts and Innovation Centre, new Halls of Residence, and improved sports facilities amongst recent developments.